$600 is way out of the prepaid price range... MetroPCS sells the Galaxy S III at a similar price point, and it's just too pricey for the demographic. Ditto for Virgin Mobile's iPhone 4/4S, which is selling very slowly.
Lots of working-class people (the vast majority of the country) have difficulty affording expensive Android, iPhone or BlackBerry phones. WP 8 works better on low-cost hardware than Android, and could "democratize the smartphone." A $250 WP handset is EXACTLY in the sweet spot... a much better experience than the creaky Android handsets that they're shifting at that price point.
Nokia needs to give up its short-term dreams of dominating high-end phones, and focus on volume. If they grab a prepaid customer who loves his Nokia 620, he's going to be loyal to the brand if he decides to kick up to a contract phone (or a high-priced unlocked phone like the 9XX series).
HTC also packages a bunch of prepaid phones with Android (the One V and Evo 3D are both big sellers on Virgin, Boost, Cricket, Metro, etc.) Why not get the 8S into the mix, too?
Both Nokia and HTC could use a shot in the arm. Sure, the prepaid business isn't "sexy," but it is profitable and helps the brand get credibility with everyday consumers. Millions and millions of WP8 devices on prepaid networks grow the base of users and make WP a more "everyday" phenomenon.
There's a great open Window (yuk yuk yuk) right now, before RIM gets in with its entry-level BB10 devices that are shipping shortly after the first wave of BB10s. RIM does a crackin' business on prepaid with cheap Curves.
Lots of working-class people (the vast majority of the country) have difficulty affording expensive Android, iPhone or BlackBerry phones. WP 8 works better on low-cost hardware than Android, and could "democratize the smartphone." A $250 WP handset is EXACTLY in the sweet spot... a much better experience than the creaky Android handsets that they're shifting at that price point.
Nokia needs to give up its short-term dreams of dominating high-end phones, and focus on volume. If they grab a prepaid customer who loves his Nokia 620, he's going to be loyal to the brand if he decides to kick up to a contract phone (or a high-priced unlocked phone like the 9XX series).
HTC also packages a bunch of prepaid phones with Android (the One V and Evo 3D are both big sellers on Virgin, Boost, Cricket, Metro, etc.) Why not get the 8S into the mix, too?
Both Nokia and HTC could use a shot in the arm. Sure, the prepaid business isn't "sexy," but it is profitable and helps the brand get credibility with everyday consumers. Millions and millions of WP8 devices on prepaid networks grow the base of users and make WP a more "everyday" phenomenon.
There's a great open Window (yuk yuk yuk) right now, before RIM gets in with its entry-level BB10 devices that are shipping shortly after the first wave of BB10s. RIM does a crackin' business on prepaid with cheap Curves.
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